13 percent of deadly crashes in Colorado involved pot.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Reefer Madness: Driving High Doubles Likelihood of Fatal Crash

Driving with a doobie is now officially a bad idea: According to Canadian researchers, people who smoke marijuana within three hours of driving are twice as likely to cause a crash than someone who is sober.

[decocker 7,198]

i don't think i was supporting smoking and driving within three hours, was i?

and from your article:

A recent article written by NORML, an organization working to reform marijuana laws, concedes that driving high is more dangerous than driving sober, but says it is better than driving drunk.

"Although acute cannabis intoxication following inhalation has been shown to mildly impair psychomotor skills, this impairment is seldom severe or long lasting," author Paul Armentano writes. "Unlike subjects impaired by alcohol, individuals under the influence of cannabis tend to be aware of their impairment and try to compensate for it accordingly, either by driving more cautiously or by expressing an unwillingness to drive altogether."

Edited January 25, 2013 by val erie

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

i don't think i was supporting smoking and driving within three hours, was i?

and from your article:

How long do you think it takes before it is as safe to drive after smoking or otherwise ingesting the active ingredient as if one was completely sober?

I didn't know "NORML" was a scientific organization.

[decocker 7,198]

How long do you think it takes before it is as safe to drive after smoking or otherwise ingesting the active ingredient as if one was completely sober?

that would depend on the type of marijuana and method of ingest. it is within the range of hours - not days/months.

[decocker 7,198]

I didn't know "NORML" was a scientific organization.

so what do you know about norml?

what do you know about marijuana laws and how they came to be?

what do you know about the organizations that carried out the studies?

here are norml's thoughts on personal use:

Personal Use

It's time to stop arresting responsible marijuana smokers. Millions of Americans use marijuana; few abuse it. Arresting these otherwise law-abiding citizens serves no legitimate purpose; extends government into inappropriate areas of our private lives; and causes enormous harm to the lives, careers and families of the more than 500,000 marijuana smokers arrested each year in this country.

Marijuana smokers are no different from their nonsmoking peers, except for their marijuana use. Like most Americans, they are responsible citizens who work hard, raise families, contribute to their communities, and want a safe, crime-free neighborhood in which to live. They are not part of the crime problem and should not be treated like criminals.

Responsible marijuana use causes no harm to society and should be of no interest to state and federal governments. Today, far more harm is caused by marijuana prohibition than by the use of marijuana itself.

Decriminalization

NORML supports the removal of all penalties for the private possession of marijuana by adults, cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. NORML also supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana.

Harm Reduction

All drugs, including marijuana, can be abused. Our marijuana policies should discourage irresponsible use, including use by adolescents.

The best way to prevent drug abuse is with honest, credible and factual drug education. Only in a climate in which marijuana is viewed from a public health perspective, instead of a criminal justice perspective, can prevention efforts be effective.

Reasonable Restrictions

As with alcohol consumption, marijuana smoking should be limited to adults. Driving or operating heavy machinery after smoking marijuana should be prohibited. NORML's "Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use" defines acceptable conduct (available upon request).

Learn more about personal use.

Edited January 25, 2013 by val erie

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

that would depend on the type of marijuana and method of ingest. it is within the range of hours - not days/months.

The mental impairment is cumulative, however, it does appear that once the substance is no longer ingested, the reduced mental capacity will eventually return, months or years later.

[decocker 7,198]

The mental impairment is cumulative, however, it does appear that once the substance is no longer ingested, the reduced mental capacity will eventually return, months or years later.

there was a recent study that showed this is true in the teenage brain, however -

"We were somewhat surprised by our finding, especially since there's been a controversy for some years on whether long-term cannabis use causes brain damage," says lead researcher and psychiatrist Igor Grant, MD.

"I suppose we expected to see some differences in people who were heavy users, but in fact the differences were very minimal."

The marijuana users in those 15 studies -- which lasted between three months to more than 13 years -- had smoked marijuana several times a week or month or daily. Still, researchers say impairments were less than what is typically found from using alcohol or other drugs.

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20030701/heavy-marijuana-use-doesnt-damage-brain

[SAT 9,609]

Drugs are bad.....Mmmm'kay...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

there was a recent study that showed this is true in the teenage brain, however -

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20030701/heavy-marijuana-use-doesnt-damage-brain

Yeah! Hang your hat on less impairment than other drugs!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And about 50% are alcohol related. So what?

I am neither in faovr of drunk nor stoned driving and it has nothing to do with whether the substance is legal. As with other issues...illegal immigration for example...our legislators have not the BALLS to protect us. Drunk and stoned driving is inexcuseable and unacceptable and should be addressed for what it is

First offense should mandate a 1 year prison sentence and loss of drivers license FOREVER. Period. DO NOT DO IT. YES people will lose their jobs, YES people will lose their families, YES people's lives will be ruined, but it will be the guilty ones whose lives are ruined. When we punish this crime severely their will be a lot less people driving drunk and a lot more designated drivers and business for taxis.

The mental impairment is cumulative, however, it does appear that once the substance is no longer ingested, the reduced mental capacity will eventually return, months or years later.

And they will stop thinking gun control can reduce crime.

[decocker 7,198]

Yeah! Hang your hat on less impairment than other drugs!

it's difficult to advocate for sensible drugs laws without being cast as an addict or criminal; my beef is with marijuana laws and the current state of our prison system. i'm not advocating use or trying to promote weed.

given what we know about the history of our drug laws and the science we now have about marijuana - we should be approaching it a bit differently. i certainly don't think it should be held in the same classification with cocaine or opiates.

marijuana intoxication while driving can be treated the same as any other controlled substance. users in co are not going to be driving around running into telephone poles because they smoked a joint three weeks before..

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The problem is, there is no such thing as "sensible drug abuse". Or, alcohol abuse. Substance abuse destroys lives, not just the life of the abuser, but the lives of those around them. So, any sort of tolerance for the behavior, encourages the behavior, and more lives will be ruined.

I am afraid organizations like NORML continue to brainwash weak-minded people into thinking society should make an allowance for such destructive behavior, or worse, convince them that the behavior is perfectly "normal" and not destructive at all.

Edited January 26, 2013 by The Patriot

[decocker 7,198]

The problem is, there is no such thing as "sensible drug abuse". Or, alcohol abuse. Substance abuse destroys lives, not just the life of the abuser, but the lives of those around them. So, any sort of tolerance for the behavior, encourages the behavior, and more lives will be ruined.

I am afraid organizations like NORML continue to brainwash weak-minded people into thinking society should make an allowance for such destructive behavior, or worse, convince them that the behavior is perfectly "normal" and not destructive at all.

i completely agree with you. i have known and loved quite a few addicts in my life, more than i care to count. i also know addicts who are now sober and also helping other people do the same. the way we treat addicts is appalling. addicts need therapy, they need counseling. jail and fines and probation do not address the source. we accept that alcoholics need treatment while other people can drink and completely control themselves. marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol for the sake of the unnecessary financial burden to our prison system and the families affected.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

i completely agree with you. i have known and loved quite a few addicts in my life, more than i care to count. i also know addicts who are now sober and also helping other people do the same. the way we treat addicts is appalling. addicts need therapy, they need counseling. jail and fines and probation do not address the source. we accept that alcoholics need treatment while other people can drink and completely control themselves. marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol for the sake of the unnecessary financial burden to our prison system and the families affected.

I have no problem with deferment programs for addicts. I also have no problem with serious drug traffickers getting life sentences. Those that fall in between, may have to do some time, while getting treatment for their addiction. But, the stigma of abuse should be indelible. How people handle that, is an individual matter. Some folks use that stigma to educate others, and that seems to be an effective way to recover their lives.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The problem is, there is no such thing as "sensible drug abuse". Or, alcohol abuse. Substance abuse destroys lives, not just the life of the abuser, but the lives of those around them. So, any sort of tolerance for the behavior, encourages the behavior, and more lives will be ruined.

I am afraid organizations like NORML continue to brainwash weak-minded people into thinking society should make an allowance for such destructive behavior, or worse, convince them that the behavior is perfectly "normal" and not destructive at all.

No Guns, No weeds,,, Bet you are against prostitution also. Man you are no fun